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During a presentation that I was giving at a small business owner's boot camp, I was asked a very interesting question by one of the attendees: "I am a real estate agent and I am not sure how LinkedIn can help me since it is a business to business platform and I am targeting consumers and homeowners. Should I be focusing just on Facebook which is more consumer oriented? And, if I should be on LinkedIn, how can I best utilize it to help me obtain more business and clients?" My Answer to How Business to Consumer (B2C) Companies Can Use LinkedIn Marketing One of the biggest advantages of using LinkedIn if you are a B2B business is being able to access targeted prospects. Now, it's quite difficult to do that if you are a B2C company as business professionals are there for these purposes: * Build and cultivate profitable relationships * Get the information they need to develop. However, that doesn't mean you should not be using LinkedIn marketing and just stick to Facebook and Twitter. Use Facebook and Twitter to build your community of prospects - but use LinkedIn marketing to attract these three audiences that can double your sales guaranteed: 1. Media Professionals - A recent study showed that 92% of all journalists are on LinkedIn which is more than any other social networking site. This means that you have more access to individuals who are looking to quote experts like you or publish articles regarding your industry and how you can help your prospective clients. By reaching out to these journalists you can develop meaningful and valuable relationships as they will come to think of you as the expert in your field and ask for your information when they are putting together their next piece. This extra publicity will give you more exposure to even more prospects and enhance your credibility so prospects will want to buy from you. 2. Referral Sources - Through LinkedIn you can build and enhance relationships with key influencers who can provide you with access to prospects you would otherwise not have known, met or done business with. A referral source is a valuable tool because it is a third party endorsement and they can act as your sales agent as they want to give their customers and clients more value. 3. Larger companies that offer products or services that are supplementary to yours - Smart companies are always looking to increase their revenues by giving their clients and customers more value. Think of the different companies and organizations that can add your products or services to their own at a premium price - and use LinkedIn to build relationships with the different company's executives. Your Next Steps... 1. Figure out who would be the best referral sources, key influences, types of media and companies for you to connect with. For example, one of my newest LinkedIn Profile Makeover clients is a real estate agent who is an expert on short sells, foreclosures and troubled properties. Before we completed her profile, we had her brainstorm who would be the best referral sources which include: * Divorce attorneys - In a divorce couples often have a house to sell. Couples also have other traditional real estate assets that often have to be sold in a divorce. Plus, at least one of the parties in a divorce will need to relocate - meaning they'll need to buy a new house. * Local bankruptcy attorneys who have clients who have no other choice but to either short sell or go into foreclosure * Florida attorneys that represent HOA's s so my client can help them with the rental of the property, property managementt and eventual short sell * Accountants who can refer clients to sell their residential or commercial properties to avoid further liability and eventual foreclosure * Financial planners, estate attorneys and probate attorneys who want to give homeowners relief from their unexpected financial burdens * Banks who want to sell their foreclosed properties in the shortest amount of time with the highest net to them 2. Create a LinkedIn profile that is written for the referral sources and media you want to attract starting with your headline. In the headline, identify the audiences you want to connect with - and why they should want to connect with you. In your summary, explain to referral sources how you can be of value to their clients and customers and how your relationship will help them. Also, if you are trying to attract publicity, show the media that you are an expert. Use any media mentions to your advantage in your summary sections as well as having a complete media kit on your profile using the Box.net, Slideshare and Google Presentations applications. To help you create the copy you need for your LinkedIn profile, check out my Instant LinkedIn Marketing Templates at http://www.InstantLinkedInMarketingTemplates.com 3. Stay on top of your referral sources' and media professionals' minds - Once you figure out who your best key influencers, referral sources and media types, start doing your research on LinkedIn and make connections. When you make a new connection, invite the referral source or media professional to your LinkedIn group where you provide tips, tools and articles. Every time you are published, featured or quoted in the media you should be announcing it to your connections and group members. This will show them that you are a valuable resource and keep you on top of their minds. So when a referral source has a client needing your expertise, they'll think of you. And, when the media needs an expert to quote- they'll come to you. So create a strong LinkedIn profile using my Instant LinkedIn Marketing Templates, figure out who would be the best referral sources and media types and start making connections that can double your sales guaranteed. LinkedIn Expert Kristina Jaramillo creates online marketplace opportunities for B2C companies and marketing executives that want to get more publicity, build relationships with key influencers and double their website traffic and sales. Now, with her free special report, you can uncover easy ways to gain more connections fast by avoiding the top 14 mistakes. Get this information for free at: http://www.Free14LinkedInMistakes.com

Online press release distribution has not lost its power to create buzz and brand awareness. In fact, in speaking with many business professionals who have used our distribution partner's press release services, we've been told: * Their press releases were picked up by 40+ online sites and media news stations. * Their press release placement brought additional credibility to the launch of their new books, products and services. * They started to dominate the search engines – and "own" their keywords as search engines love optimized press releases * They doubled and tripled their website traffic * Multiple reporters and media professionals contacted them for additional interviews and media opportunities that give them more exposure. * Their website now ranks higher on Google - because online press release distribution is a powerful link building too. Here's an additional benefit of online press release distribution that no one else is talking about...Online press release distribution will help you with your overall LinkedIn marketing efforts. 6 Ways Online Press Release Distribution Can Help You With Your LinkedIn Marketing Efforts 1) The press release generated publicity can provide you with instant credibility with your LinkedIn profile visitors. For example my client Sara LaForest's headline reads like this: "Top Management Consultant Featured in Business Week, Fast Company & WomenEntrepreneur.com – Connect and Find Out Why". This shows readers immediately why they should trust her and why they should trust what she has to say. Here are some of the other ways you can highlight your publicity on your LinkedIn profile: * Create a quoted media positions * Showcase your media mentions within your summary * Add the publications section to your LinkedIn profile * Create a media kit on your LinkedIn profile using Box.net 2) Showcasing your press release generated publicity will prove to journalists that you are media worthy. On LinkedIn you should be looking to connect with journalists, editors, online radio show hosts and other media professionals. Now for those media professionals to accept your invitation, you have to prove you are credible and newsworthy. When your press release is published by a top publication, you have completed half the battle because you have given yourself expert status. Now, you just have to build a relationship with the media professionals you connect with and show them that your information is relevant to their audience. 3) Use press releases to promote your LinkedIn group and community. We recently created and distributed a press release that promoted Skip Weisman's Workplace Communication Strategies group – and it was published on CNBC.com. This helped him: * Increase his LinkedIn group membership by making more people aware of his group. * Give him a reason to re-announce his group again to his email list as well as any LinkedIn connection that were not already members of his group. Any time you have a success, you should be letting your connections know. * Give new connections a reason to join his LinkedIn group when we sent out group invites. 4) Your press release placements can position you as a thought leader in your LinkedIn group – and those other groups you belong to. I like to create discussions around a topic and link the discussion to a press release or article I've written that gives more information on the topic and is featured on a top website. This automatically gives me a third party endorsement which offers more credibility than if the information was just placed on my own website or blog. 5) Use your press release placement as a springboard for discussions. For example, I distributed a press release titled "More Journalist on LinkedIn Than Any Other Social Network, Study Shows". I then created this discussion within LinkedIn group: "How are you using LinkedIn to get you more publicity? In the LinkedIn discussion summary I put "In the press release below, I reveal that 82% of journalist are on LinkedIn and that is more than any other social network. So now I am asking you, how are using LinkedIn to build and maintain relationships with media professionals to get you more publicity?" I then linked the discussion to my press release on Yahoo News. This helped me: * Get more exposure for my press release * Create a discussion among publicity professionals as they provided their insights. I then responded to their feedback with other ideas and explained to them how I can help them with their LinkedIn publicity efforts * Start a discussion among small business owners and other business professionals who wanted to learn how to get more publicity by using LinkedIn 6) Getting published or featured all over the Web on top websites and blogs will give you access to more people who will want to connect with you on LinkedIn. You will have people coming to you seeking your advice. They will see your press release and then look you up on LinkedIn wanting to connect with you. For example, as I was writing this article, I received an invitation to connect that said, "Hi Kristina, I just read your tips in Canadian Advisor's Edge Magazine – I'd like to connect with you and learn more." Your Next Steps Now that I have shown you how online press release distribution can help you with your LinkedIn marketing efforts, it's time you take action and start writing your press releases. If you need help, check our my Instant Press Release Templates at 40InstantPressReleaseTemplates.com LinkedIn marketing expert Kristina Jaramillo helps small businesses and organizations get more publicity, prospects and profits using effective LinkedIn. Now, at http://www.HowtoGetMorePublicitywithLinkedIn.com, you can gain full access to her FREE 14-Day LinkedIn Publicity E-course that shows you how to create an expert LinkedIn profile the media will love, how to build relationships with the media plus sneaky ways to get more PR using LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is reportedly the most popular business social networking site used by attorneys. In fact, a recent report shows that 70% of corporate counsel use LinkedIn as a tool, and half rely on it. Executives from every Fortune 500 company are using LinkedIn.
To help law firms attract and retain more clients using LinkedIn, I have identified ten different opportunities attorneys should take advantage of.
10 Ways Law Firms Can Use LinkedIn to Attract and Retain More Business
1. Build relationships with potential clients - If you deal with corporate business, small business or real estate issues then you can use LinkedIn to network with potential clients - and educate them so they will want to come to you with their problems.
2. Build relationships with potential referral sources - For example, an attorney who specializes in social security law can network with partners or employees at general practice firms so they can pass business on to you. Business lawyers can network with accountants and business advisors. Lawyers that work in the real estate industry can connect with realtors who can refer business to them. Elder care attorneys can network with assisted living homes and care giving service providers and associations who can refer business to them.
3. Create a community of like-minded professionals - For example if you are a real estate attorney educate a group of real estate agent so they can refer business to you or use you if their clients need your advice. Within this group, you need to create conversations and link prospects, referral sources and the media back to your blog or website where they can get even more information. Notice, your LinkedIn group is part of the lead generation funnel.
4. Build relationships with the media - 92% of all media professionals are on LinkedIn, which is more than any other social networking site. That means editors, journalists and reporters of local, regional and national publications and other media types are available to you on LinkedIn. You can reach out to these individuals and invite them to your group so they can see the type of information you can offer their readers, listeners or viewers.
5. Spread your content and prove you are a thought leader - Placing your content, expertise and messages in front of targeted prospects is the absolute best way to attract new clients and referral sources. That's why you need to join groups where your prospects are going to for information you can provide and engage in conversations.
6. Nurture relationships with existing clients
Your marketing and relationship building efforts should not stop once someone becomes a client. That's why attorneys should have a group specifically for providing ongoing, exclusive content and information just for clients where they can answer more specific questions. This will help you with client retention.
7. Perform market research that you can promote with articles and press releases
Recently a client of mine who is a workplace communication expert conducted on LinkedIn a study of CEOs, Presidents, Vice Presidents and manager. From his research he found that 44% of the executives surveyed were unhappy with their employees' performance and their own communication style. Using his survey questions he was also able to uncover what problems they were encountering.
With this knowledge he then created:
* A report that showcased the results.
* Press release to reveal the results and position him as a thought leader.
* Webinars to discuss solutions to the problems his audience were encountering
* Articles and LinkedIn discussions to promote the study, the report and the event
* A complete marketing and PR plan and strategy based off this study
8. Build an extensive network of connections who can be expert witnesses for your clients. By building a relationship on LinkedIn with connections who can be expert witnesses for issues relating to your law specialty, you give prospects and clients a reason to hire you. Now, you are combining your expert knowledge in the industry with support that other law firms may not be able to offer.
9. Stay up-to-date on what's happening in your industry - Join groups that your peers, colleagues and competitors belong to. This will help you way stay current on trends, problems, concerns and even cases in your industry. You will be able to see what others are talking about and what they have to share. And, you can use this as an idea bank for articles and press releases that you can write to promote your law firm.
10. Showcase your attorney's abilities - Every attorney in your practice should have a LinkedIn profile and there should be a link to it on the company website. This will enable clients or prospects to reach out to your practice in another way and on a more personal level. And, the lawyers will be able to update their LinkedIn profiles to showcase their skills, abilities, articles that were published and media mentions without having to pay expensive webmaster fees.
Now, as I said earlier, LinkedIn is reportedly the most popular business social networking site used by attorneys. In fact, a LinkedIn search for the keyword "legal" gave me more than 1 million results. However, only a small percentage of these attorneys are using LinkedIn to its fullest potential for bringing in more clients, referrals and publicity. The question is:
Are you willing to breakthrough the pack - and become part of that small percentage who of attorneys who are using LinkedIn effectively to market their law firms?
LinkedIn Marketing Expert Kristina Jaramillo creates online marketplace opportunities for lawyers and law firms who want to attract more clients. Now, you can uncover the LinkedIn marketing mistakes you are making the opportunities your law firm is missing by grabbing Kristina's free special report at: http://www.Free14LinkedInMistakesReport.com <= Get this report for free and start getting more publicity, more clients and more referrals!

When you take control of your social media interactions on LinkedIn you will build, develop and have command over your own community. For example, when Article Marketing Expert Eric Gruber and I created and launched our Instant LinkedIn Marketing Templates we: 1. Reached out to our LinkedIn Group members. Eric has over 800 people in his group alone, which is a target rich environment for us to get more sales. 2. We created articles that demonstrated ways LinkedIn should be used to generate more profits for you. We created articles that showed top mistakes people are making on their LinkedIn profiles. At the end of all these articles we added a call to action to grab our Instant LinkedIn Marketing Templates. 3. We used a simple learn, lurk and link strategy to capture other prospects that belong to other groups. Some of these groups have more than 25,000 members. I cannot tell you how many times we saw an order that had "LinkedIn Group" as the answer to: "Where did you hear about us?" Here's My Simple Learn, Lurk & Link Strategy Explained in Detail 1. Learn - Before you can create content that your LinkedIn prospects can connect to you must uncover what challenges they are facing, the latest thinking, mistakes that are being made and what questions are being left unanswered. The best way to achieve this is to be where your prospects are. That means you should join the LinkedIn groups your prospects belong to. Then move onto the next step. 2. Lurk - Go to the group and view the discussions. Look what kinds of questions are being asked within the group. See what kind of content is being created and distributed. Check out the different debates that occurring, this way you can see other points of views. This is one of the best ways to see the latest thinking and philosophies. Then find out how you can add value to the conversations by revealing information that has not been said before. Offer a new twist or insight on a popular topic. This will make people want to listen to what you have to say and learn more about what you have to offer. 3. Link - The final step is linking to these prospects. Invite people to connect that have commented on your articles, posts or previous comments. Reach out to prospects by asking them questions and inviting them to join the conversation. The point of this is to get people to like what you have to say so they will view your website, buy your products, use your services, ask for your advice and so on. When you can show that you are an expert in your field others will listen. Now try my learn, lurk and link strategies with your LinkedIn marketing and see if you can get results like Help My Website Founder Adam Hommey who received 150 new subscribers, four new coaching clients, $6,259 in immediate profits and two media interviews! After receiving these results here is what Adam had to say: "Leveraging the full power of LinkedIn® has been the secret ingredient that has taken me further during the last couple of months toward achieving "authority" status as a website conversions expert than I moved in three years PRIOR." Now are you ready to learn, lurk and link? LinkedIn marketing Expert Kristina Jaramillo, the creator of the first LinkedIn marketing templates at http://www.InstantLinkedInMarketingTemplates.com helps business professionals network more effectively on LinkedIn so they can get more website traffic, prospects and profits. Now, with her free special report, you can uncover how you can become "the trusted source for your industry on LinkedIn" by avoiding her top 14 mistakes. Get this information for free at: http://www.GetLinkedInHelp.com

Many LinkedIn professionals simply copy their bios from their website or the back of their book. And believe me you can tell. For example, I recently spoke to Ted Gee about changing his LinkedIn profile. I told him that his summary read like a back flap of a hard cover book. His exact response was, "You nailed it! That is exactly what I did". Why Your LinkedIn Profile Should Not Sound Like an Author's Biography... Your profile should not sound like an author's bio because it is and old and over used format. Do you remember anything you have read from a bio? No, that is because there is never anything interesting or memorable in an author's bio. Your profile needs to entice your audience to want to learn more about you. It needs to have strong and engaging copy. It had to make the individual who is reading it scroll down further and eventually visit your website. But none of this can ever happen if your profile is dull and average. Here are 5 Secrets to Making Your Profile More Exciting and Enjoyable to Your Readers... 1) Make your profile summary in 1st person not 3rd person. LinkedIn is a virtual networking platform for business professionals who want to do more business. It is the first step in building a relationship with someone. You wouldn't introduce yourself in the third person if you met someone at a networking event. – would you? Then why would you introduce yourself on your profile in 3rd person when writing in first person gives you a more genuine and personal touch. 2) Speak to your audience's desires, wants and needs. For example here is part of the introduction we created for the summary for PRLeads Founder Dan Janal: Imagine being featured on the front page of USA TODAY -- and then being able to double your speaking fees immediately just like PR LEADS client Patrick Snow of Creating Your Own Destiny. Imagine the website traffic and sales you can generate if only you can find a way to get more publicity so you can speak to millions for free! Now, small business owners, solo PR firms, speakers, authors and entrepreneurs can get name-brand publicity tools and publicity coaching they can afford. I'm talking about the same top-tier publicity tools that major corporations use to get mega media placements – but you can get it at a fraction of their cost. Do you see how Dan's intro speaks to the needs, wants and desires of a small business owner looking to attract media attention? 3) Reveal mistakes your target audience is making and how you are the solution to their problems. For example, in Skip Weisman's profile summary we revealed how one of his clients admittedly lost 5 million in ten years before working with him. By showing your audience the types of mistakes they are making (that they don't even realize they are doing), you will stop prospects dead in their tracks. They will automatically want to see if they are making costly mistakes themselves. The key part of this process is to provide reasons how you can help members of your audience and why they should work with you. 4) Show client results. For example, on Help My Website Sell founder Adam Hommey's profile we included results like: * Ross Jeffries (Founder of Speed Seduction) - For every dollar he spends on internet marketing consulting, he earns several dollars back. In fact, with one of his promotions, he made more than $60,000 in less than 24 hours! * MaryPat Kavanagh - Saved thousands of dollars after Adam reviewed her website and internet marketing systems. He showed her how she's wasting money on complex solutions that are actually costing her money. 5) Use LinkedIn profile templates. When you use templates like the ones found at http://www.InstantLinkedInMarketingTemplates.com, you get the structure, format and organization you need to create a more audience-focused, exciting profile. Here is just what one user had to say about LinkedIn templates: Kristina, I wanted to thank you and recommend your products for LinkedIn Profiles. I purchased them and followed your templates and my LinkedIn profile went from completely empty to completely professional. I have had testimonials, been published and still didn't know how to use those tools to my advantage. Your tools gave me that. Since then I have had more connections, more recommendations, and more conversations with potential customers. Always remembering to use the call to action skills I learned from your templates. The next time you login to your LinkedIn account read your profile and see if it appeals to you as a reader. If it does not, you definitely have to follow some of the tips you just read to improve upon the copy. Remember you have to entice the reader to learn more about you and what to work with you or purchase your products. One way to guarantee this is to make sure your profile does not read like an author's biography. LinkedIn marketing Expert Kristina Jaramillo, the creator of the first LinkedIn marketing templates at http://www.InstantLinkedInMarketingTemplates.com helps business professionals network more effectively on LinkedIn so they can get more website traffic, prospects and profits. Now, with her free special report, you can uncover how you can become "the trusted source for your industry on LinkedIn" by avoiding her top 14 mistakes. Get this information for free at: http://www.GetLinkedInHelp.com